I have seen every single Varg Veum TV movie there is, but this is the first book I have read. Wolves in the Dark is book 21 so I have missed a couple. Nevertheless, I just knew I had to read this one since I find Varg Veum to be such a fabulous TV characters that I wanted to see how he is portrayed in the books.

And, he is, to be honest not showing his best side in the book, after losing Karin some years before has he pretty much spent the years since then drinking which makes it hard for him to remember the cases he has been involved with. And, now he really needs to remember them, so that he can clear his name from the accusation of harboring child pornography on his computer. He has not many allies in this book, luckily for him he has a girlfriend that believes in him, but even her trust will be put to the test.

Let me tell you, this is a dark story. Child pornography is an awful subject to read about, and I really, really wanted Veum to get to the bottom of it and clear his name. However, first, he must try to put the pieces together, he has some names and vague recollections, and as the story progress will he learn that there are some people out there that wouldn't mind destroying his life. It's an engrossing book, and it was interesting to see how the story that started out with Veum trying to remember his past then everything started slowly getting more clearly as the story progressed.

The ending, well, gave some answers, but not everything was resolved. And, the cliffhanger was excruciating and now I want the next book to read!

I want to thank the publisher for providing me with a free copy for an honest review! ( )

It felt a little bit daunting when I picked up Wolves in the Dark, as I hadn't realised how many earlier Varg Veum books there were - this is number 21, in case you are wondering. I was worried that joining a series so late would lessen the enjoyment of reading the book, but I am delighted to report that it works so well as a standalone that it left me wanting to find out more about Varg's back story.

The drama begins on the very first page when Varg is awoken by the police as they turn up at the crack of dawn to arrest him for having shocking images of children on his computer. Varg has never seen the images before but with such compelling evidence stacked against him, he struggles to prove his innocence. Whilst being investigated he tries to remember anybody who might bear him a grudge. It took me a little while to get used to the writing style at this point, as it wasn't clear to me that we were reading about Varg's past so I was wondering how he got out of custody. Once the penny dropped, I got used to it and although I didn't need a 'then' and 'now' chapter heading, something like a '3 years ago' hint would have alleviated my confusion.

The storyline is quite serious and shocking at times, but I loved the little bits of Gunnar Staalesen's dry humour sprinkled throughout - Varg's rapid-fire quips and humorous anecdotes did make me laugh on more than one occasion. The thing that intrigued me the most about Varg is that he's a private investigator who's not very good at following people. He doesn't really care about his work either, since he lost his lover Karin, all he cares about is picking up his next bottle of Aquavit (a Scandinavian spirit). He reminded me of Dr House and his addiction to Vicodin - both struggling to block out the pain by any means necessary.

Wolves in the Dark is one of those fast-paced sweaty palm sort of books; you could feel the net closing in and the clock ticking down whilst the hunted man is still struggling to prove his innocence. It's a book that makes me simultaneously want to reach for the back-catalogue as well as seeing when the next instalment is coming out - now that I've been introduced to Varg mid-series I definitely want to know more. A brilliant introduction to the Varg Veum series; giving us a glimpse of such a well established character certainly left me thirsty for more.

I chose to read an ARC and this is my honest and unbiased opinion. ( )

Als privédetective Varg Veum wordt beschuldigd van betrokkenheid bij een pedofielennetwerk, probeert hij er achter te komen wie de ware schuldige is ( )

The last four years of his life, since Karin's death, have been a nightmare, and now Varg Veum is entering an even worse one.

The police have identified him as one of four men who are part of an international paedophile ring. His lawyer wants him to think over the last four years and try to work out who could be responsible. At first Varg can't think of anyone, and then he remembers various cases that he took on, none of which were successful, where someone may have come out harboring a grudge. For the reader it reveals just what Varg has been up to in the last four years and with him we begin to work out who may be responsible for his current situation.

An excellent read that really gets you in. ( )

Wolves in the Dark – The Darkest Underbelly of Nordic Noir

It is hard to believe that Gunnar Staalesen introduced the world to Varg Veum over forty years ago, and that even after all this time, his noir is just as fresh as the first. Never judge his books by the cover (under Orenda Books they are brilliant) or the thickness, what Staalesen delivers in just over two hundred pages others need five hundred. As a wordsmith he wastes nothing, and once again brilliantly translated by Don Bartlett a match made in heaven.

Veum’s door bell is ringing and there is hammering at the door, he is still hungover from last night, when he opens the window to find Bergen’s local police force is outside his front door. He lets them in like the good citizen he is, but then finds himself promptly under arrest. He is confused, especially when they seize his computer and mobile phone.

It is when he is sat opposite a police solicitor, who has no time for him, and a former contact in the police station, that he is shocked to find he has been arrested for owning and distributing abusive images of children and being part of an international paedophile ring. The police do not believe him when he tells them he has no idea how the images got on his computer, and that he is barely sober, especially since the death of his lover Karin.

Even with his solicitors help and the expert he brings in the police simply do not believe Veum and he is forced to think of his more lucid moments as too who may dislike him enough to set him up, but being a private investigator that list is rather long. It is when he is left alone at the police station that the opportunity arises that he escapes and sets out to prove his innocence.

Dodging the police around Bergen who are looking to arrest him, he delves in to his memory to think of people who may know there way around a computer who he had annoyed enough to be set up. Unfortunately, he found himself with a long list and he knew he would have to chase down every lead to find the truth. Veum knows that it is not just his reputation on the line but his liberty also.

Once again Staalesen proves with this book why he is at the height of his powers, adapting Varg Veum to the age that story is set in. Once again, his gritty writing, conscious of the current fears of society as a whole, and touches the darkest parts of a person’s soul. His storytelling draws you in and leaves you breathless all the way to the end, and like a fine wine, always leaving you wanting more, but you know you blood pressure could not take it. ( )